Thursday, July 30, 2009

Domaine Etienne Sauzet 2005 Montrachet



I was just going over my blogs to date, and I know this is going to seem really naff, but when I posted the Bastille Day blog back on the 14th, I was going to make a week of French wine entries, but thanks to Perth and the bloody swine flu (don’t worry, you can’t catch it through cyber space, or....) that idea went south. So, my bright idea is to add one more blog for Bastille Day, but with a twist; it will be in French as well, or en anglais ainsi.

So here we go.

Domaine Etienne Sauzet 2005 Montrachet. If you are thinking,’ hmm, that sounds like a nice drop then.’, go to the kitchen sink, fill a glass of water to the top and throw it in your face (water, not the vessel people). Montrachet is where Chardonnay goes to heaven, it is when you have 17 holes in one in a row and when you withdraw $200 from an ATM and it gives you $2000!

The 2005 Etienne Sauzet is quite simply perfect. Perfect!!

The 2005 vintage in Burgundy was, yes I know I am repeating myself, perfect. In viticulture terms everything that happened, happened when it should have; it rained when it was supposed to rain, it was warm when it was supposed to be warm and it rained again when it was supposed to rain.

The colour is straw yellow with absolutely no dullness in sight. On the nose there is lemon, crushed gravel – something like river-bed pebbles – which is very minerally. After a while there comes granny smith apple telling you there is very little MLF. In the mouth there is an instant hit of soft spice, lemon tart and the one that makes it special, liquorice powder.

Wines like this are really once in a life time – truly. There is perfect balance, endless length and seem less complexity.

Drink till 2020
Drink with lobster
19.8/20

And...

Domaine Etienne Montrachet de Sauzet 2005. Si vous envisagez, ’ hmm, que des sons comme une goutte nice alors. ’, passez à l'évier de cuisine, remplir un verre d'eau vers le haut et jeter dans votre visage (eau, pas le peuple du navire). Montrachet est où Chardonnay va vers le ciel, c'est lorsque vous avez 17 trous dans un dans une ligne et quand vous retirer $200 un distributeur de billets et il vous offre $2000!

La 2005 Etienne Sauzet est tout simplement parfait. Parfait!!

Le millésime 2005 en Bourgogne a été, Oui je sais que je suis moi-même, répétant parfait. En viticulture termes tout ce qui est passé, est arrivé quand il devrait avoir ; il plu lorsqu'il était censé pluie, il était chaud quand il était censé pour être chaud et il plu à nouveau quand il était censé pluie.

La couleur est jaune paille avec absolument aucune dullness en vue. Sur le nez, il n'y est citron, gravier concassé – quelque chose comme lit du fleuve cailloux – qui est très minerally. Après un certain temps, il arrive granny smith pomme en vous disant qu'il y a très peu MLF. Dans la bouche, il existe un succès immédiat des épices douces, Tarte au citron et celui qui le rend spécial, poudre de réglisse.

Vins comme ceci sont vraiment une fois en un temps de vie – vraiment. Il est parfait équilibre, longueur interminable et semblent moins complexité.



Boisson jusqu'en 2020
Drink avec homard
19,8/20.

5 comments:

  1. Only discovered your blog today Tim but have thoroughly enjoyed reading the back catalogue. Am organising a trip to the Macedon Ranges with a few mates soon and thought perhaps a man like yourself (versed in victoria's vitaculture) might have a few recommendations. So far I have Bindi, Curly Flat, Mt Gisbourne and Hanging Rock. What am I missing?

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  2. thanks for the feedback Joel

    What type of trip are you organising, and for how many people? Bindi do not have a cellar door. i might be able to tee something up at Curly, I am seeing the winemaker, Georgie, next week. I know David Ell from Mt Gisborne and he is always happy to have people drop in - with an appointment.

    Tim

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  3. The group is 5-7. We were talking a few weekends ago about a concept called 'short straw saturday'. I.e. We hire a van and all meet up early saturday morning - short straw has to drive. Individually we have seen a bit of the Yarra Valley and the Mornington Peninsula but I am relatively sure no one has spent much time around Macedon. I thought it might be a good place to start what I am hoping could be a once a month exploration of Victorian wine.

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  4. give Mount Gisborne, Curly Flat, Portree, Granite Hills, Cobaw Ridge and Hanging Rock a go. I'd give Curly and Mount Gisborne a bell before heading up. If you get to Cobaw Ridge, make sure you get some of the Lagrein they make. Its an Italian variety with miniscule plantings in Oz.
    Have fun and let me know how you go.

    Tim

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  5. Thanks Tim, will do. Expect by the time we get everyone signed up to the same weekend it will be late September (its like herding chickens). Tried the Prickly Moses Otway Stout you reviewed tonight. Mucho fantastico!

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